I still remember when I first began my online journey around 5 years ago, I had just set up my website and eagerly was awaiting sales to come flooding in!! :)

Nothing happened and as the learning curve goes...I was getting sorely disappointed at this stage which was when I received a very interesting and hopeful phone call. They introduced themselves...said I had a very interesting website and that they were interested in what I was advertising. He then asked me whether I wanted my webpage to be number 1 on Google to which any self respecting newbie to internet marketing would reply "YES". I was informed that If I parted with a measly 2000 USD, this SEO company would skyrocket my sales by getting my website ranked number one on the search engines within 2-3 months.

Well...I had my credit card out but believe me or not... divine intervention saved me from bankrupting myself even before I started. The CC did not go through and for the next few weeks this company tried everything in it's arsenal to get me to pay up, threatening legal action. I'm glad the money did not go through but it was an invaluable lesson anyhow.

So here's a short article on how you can recognise fraud and scams in the online world...

Every body has heard of duplicitous online schemes: fraudulent business deals that soak innocent folks for hundreds and even thousands of dollars. These bad deals are rampant on the internet, and virtually any search for work at home opportunities will turn up several scam programs. As aware as most people are that these bad deals exist, there are still three things that the perpetrators count on your not knowing.

1. The best bad deals are carefully disguised to look like good business models. In fact, there are many fraudulent schemes based on legitimate businesses! Taking a solid business and tweaking some of the components can produce a money-making fraud that most people will believe in. Frauds that look a lot like reputable programs can be virtually indistinguishable, opening even the most suspicious online business people up to harm.

2. The bad people behind frauds keep their hands as clean as possible by staying hands off. A fraud will quickly reveal itself when you can’t get an answer from anyone you try to contact with questions. Much like the little wizard behind the curtain in the magical world of Oz, these people sit safely behind computer screens and never respond to the calls of their victims. They count on eager customers who will not try to speak with them in advance to ensure that they do not have to start any communication that might hinder their fraud later.

3. People who live off of scams rely on shame to perpetuate their crime. They rely on the shame of their victims and the silence that shame inspires. Online scam artists trust that you will not tell anyone you fell for a scam. When you don’t tell, their secrets stay safe and other people might fall for the same scheme again. They rely on your embarrassment and silence to strike out at new victims.

These simple facts about scams help shed light on the way these awful businesses perpetuate frauds online. Keep these facts in mind as you work online, and you might find you avoid a few more fraudulent schemes this festive season....All the best.

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